Perhaps you remember the stories from which A Year with Frog and Toad was adapted. The classic series "Frog and Toad are Friends" was written in 1970 by Arnold Lobel. The musical adaptation follows a year-in-the-life of these two amphibious friends. If you're not familiar with the original stories, the nature of Frog and Toad's relationship becomes pretty apparent to any adult watching the show early on- Frog and Toad are, quite likely, more than just friends and neighbors. This is, of course, just an interpretation of the show. It is not blatantly stated at any point, but I mention this in case you might find yourself needing to explain it to your kids. At any rate, the tale itself is quite charming and some of the music is cute and fun, but if your kids are more into action and excitement, this may not be the show for them.

There are so many fun and festive family-friendly holiday activities to take part in each year, from taking a Christmas train ride and attending a Santa breakfast, to shopping for gifts at a local market. One more tradition that we love is taking a cozy sleigh ride, and warming up after with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. We’ll be dreaming of a white Christmas so we can go dashing through the snow at one of these seven spots in Massachusetts that offer sleigh rides!

Exploring the Liberty Science Center with kids who want to crawl through the Touch Tunnel or scale the Climbing Challenge can work up quite an appetite. While we appreciate the convenience of museum-cafe pizza and chicken fingers after a day of hands-on exhibits, sometimes a more varied menu—away from the crowds—hits the spot.

During the holiday season, families gather to enjoy delicious meals, exchange gifts and celebrate the year gone by. But for a number of underprivileged New Yorkers, the holiday season can be a particularly difficult time. Volunteering is a wonderful way to help those in need, and an ideal opportunity to teach children the true spirit of the season.

We've rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly volunteering opportunities. No matter where in the tristate area you live, the age of your children, or your family's interests, chances are there is a program to fulfill your holiday volunteering desires.

A new NYC-based app, GooRoo, is connecting students (and their parents) with pre-screened tutors. It launched last spring from its home base on the Upper West Side, drawing on tutors from Columbia University, but has since expanded into all five boroughs, and more recently, Northern New Jersey, with tutors serving Bergen County, Jersey City, and Hoboken.

It’s a time-saver for busy parents, because each tutor has been interviewed in-person about his or her teaching style and passed a background check. Parents can peruse tutor ratings, pictures, and even videos. Read on for our review of this new app, and be sure to peruse the NYC Classes Guide or NJ Classes Guide to find more local enrichment options for your kids.

The holidays are just around the corner, and nothing says "I love you" quite like a homemade gift. Treat your loved ones and family members to something really special with an awesome DIY gift that will blow them away! Or, make something special for your own home- like a wreath or ornament. The family bonding time alone is worth it, and you'll have something beautiful (or delicious) to bring home. Check out some of these great classes and workshops being offered in the area this month to learn how to make something unique.

Gathering around the table with family and friends to enjoy a festive meal is a hallmark of the holiday season, and one that is often enjoyed multiple times throughout the November and December months due to Thanksgiving and Christmas occurring in rapid succession. However, having two big holidays so close together can become overwhelming for even the most dedicated cook, and there's no shame in needing a break from the kitchen come Christmas Day (and no judgment on our part if you treated yourself to a Thanksgiving dinner out, too!). We've rounded up a variety of restaurants around Houston that are opening their doors on Christmas Day, spanning everything from fancy brunches to low-key diners, so you can take a break from the kitchen and enjoy a meal out with the family. And don't forget to check out our holiday guide for more events and things to do during the season.

Celebrating the holidays around here can have a uniquely Southern California vibe. Take boat parades, for instance. There are precious few other places in the country that can offer bedecked boats parading around harbors and waterways to the delight of families watching from the shore, or taking a cruise on the water for a closer view. Dana Point launches the first parade of the season this week, promptly followed by 10 more local holiday boat parades.

Another advantage we have here is the ability to see big-name stars in local theater productions. Lythgoe Family Productions opens two shows this week featuring the traditional British holiday panto style, in which classic tales are infused with slapstick comedy, song and dance, exaggerated characters, topical humor and lots of audience participation. Joely Fisher and Cozi Zuehlsdorff open in Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight at Laguna Playhouse this week, and Lauren Taylor, Alex Newell, and Morgan Fairchild star in A Cinderella Christmas at Pasadena Playhouse.

As always, there are plenty more ideas to be found on the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar, as well as our monthly picks in our December GoList. Here are some of our favorite holiday and non-holiday related events this week.